The latest graduate employment survey conducted by Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) revealed that the starting salary of SUTD graduates has soared.

Fresh graduates from the class of 2016 can earn a mean gross monthly salary of S$3,853 compared compared to $3,709 in 2015. In fact, more than 90% of the 246-strong cohort clinched job opportunities within six months after their graduation in September last year.

In comparison, graduates from the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU) reported mean gross monthly salaries of $3,515 last year, up from $3,468 in 2015. Similar to SUTD, close to nine in ten found jobs within six months.

Profession-wise, the top hiring sectors of SUTD graduates include information and communications, engineering manufacturing, finance and insurance, and public administration and defence.

SUTD president Thomas Magnanti said: “Despite challenging economic conditions, we are heartened that there continues to be strong demand for our technology- and design-trained students, and their high starting salaries show that employers value what our students can bring to the table.”

He added that the university equips its students with innovation and problem-solving skills to prepare them for jobs of the future. Moreover, about three in four students also have overseas experience.

Changi Airport Group (CAG) is one of the 700 companies that collaborate with SUTD on internships and employment.

CAG’s executive vice-president for airport development, Yam Kum Weng reports that SUTD students are “eager to learn, and take in advice from colleagues before developing solutions”. He added that they are able to collaborate with colleagues across the entire value chain,and, after creating solutions, they enable others to execute (the solutions). “These qualities put them in good stead to deal with complex issues,” he said.